Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall and I were born in the same generation, each of us following a deep passion that shaped our lives’ work—Jane in the forests of Africa, and I immersed into the oceans of our Blue Water Planet. While she devoted her life to understanding and protecting chimpanzees, I dedicated mine to exploring and safeguarding marine ecosystems and the magnificent creatures of the sea.
I shared the profound honor of meeting Jane once, at a conference in Manaus in the heart of the Amazon with the love of my life who immediately recognized her. That encounter remains one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. I was mesmerized, not only by her presence, but by the quiet strength and wisdom she radiated—qualities shared by only a few rare individuals who have truly changed the course of our world. Jane is one of those extraordinary people, and it was a privilege to spend time with her.
We were both younger then, born and raised in Europe with a natural curiosity that drew us toward one another’s work— Jane courageously paved the path for future generations of girls to follow their dreams and pursue their inspirations, no matter how unconventional. She the groundbreaking pioneer who transformed our understanding of animal behavior by revealing that chimpanzees use tools, hunt, and share complex social structures; and I, the ocean explorer who became the first boy to scuba dive with my father, mother, and brother then sought to carry forward my father’s legacy of discovery and to inspire new generations to respect and protect life in the sea.
Though our paths led us into different realms—her into the forests, mine into the oceans—we were united by a shared calling: to give voice to the voiceless and to protect the fragile balance of nature. Jane Goodall remains, to me, a woman extraordinaire and one of the most inspiring people I have ever had the honor to meet.
With her passing, the world has lost not only a pioneering scientist, environmentalist, humanitarian, diplomat but also a beacon of hope and compassion.
For me personally, I will always carry the memory of our meeting in the Amazon. I will deeply miss her presence, her wisdom, and her gentle power. She reminded us all of our responsibility to protect all life, to ignite the sense of wonder empowering knowledge, and to convince everyone of us that actions have the power to create a healthy future for our Blue Green Planet Ocean.
Thank-you to the Jane Goodall Institute to carry on Jane's Legendary lifelong mission.
With Ocean of Thanks and warmest regards,
Jean-Michel Cousteau
President, Ocean Futures Society
"Protect The Ocean And You Protect Yourself” — Jean-Michel Cousteau
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